Revisiting Josh Beckett’s Legendary Tenure as a Marlin

It’s only fitting that the Miami Marlins wear teal again, even if it’s for one day a week.

The Marlins have recently been filling the formerly vacant halls of the Marlins Hall of Fame with the stars of their 2003 World Series championship team. The latest addition only spent five years with the Marlins but his first half decade was arguably the most impactful.

The Marlins drafted Josh Beckett with the second overall pick in the 1999 MLB Draft. Two years later, he made his MLB debut and was the ace of the 2003 squad. 

Beckett joins teammates Jeff Conine, Luis Castillo and manager Jack McKeon in the Marlins Hall of Fame, along with Jim Leyland. While his time in Miami was limited, Beckett produced many memorable moments. 

Beckett made his big league debut on Sept. 4, 2001 as a September callup — back when teams could bring up the entire 40-man roster. He gave up only one single through six shutout innings in an 8-1 win over the Chicago Cubs at home. He put up a 1.50 ERA with 24 strikeouts in 24 innings through four starts in his first month in the big leagues. 

Beckett’s best season as a Marlin naturally came during the 2003 season, where he posted a 3.04 ERA with 152 strikeouts. He was even better during the postseason. 

Even in a losing effort against the San Francisco Giants in the NLDS, Beckett threw seven innings with one run allowed on two hits with nine strikeouts. That would be a gem these days. 

With the Marlins facing a 3-1 deficit against the Cubs in the 2003 NLCS, Beckett rose to the occasion with his first postseason complete game, a 4-0 shutout at home with 11 strikeouts. The Cubs never got a runner in scoring position against Beckett. 

With the series tied 3-3, Beckett returned to the mound out of the bullpen in Game 7 to toss four relief innings with only one home run allowed in the Marlins’ 9-6 win over the Cubs, punching their ticket to the World Series. 

Beckett saved his best for last. The 23-year-old hot shot took on the crowd of the old Yankee Stadium and held the Bronx Bombers scoreless throughout the entirety of Game 6 of the World Series. With five hits scattered and nine strikeouts, Beckett applied the tag for the final out and ended the Yankees dynasty with a 2-0 win. 

Beckett was the first pitcher to record a shutout in a World Series clincher since 1991, a feat that has not happened since. 

In his final season with the Marlins, Beckett posted a 15-8 record with a 3.38 ERA and 166 strikeouts. The Marlins traded Beckett and Mike Lowell to the Boston Red Sox in 2006 for Anibal Sanchez and Hanley Ramirez. Beckett pitched the best season of his career in Boston’s 2007 World Series run but an argument could be made that the Marlins were the winners of that trade.